Govt calls for livestock development

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 09:40:26 +0000

By Jack Mapapayi

GOVERNMENT says it attaches great importance to livestock development to promote good nutrition and income generation among the people.

Chiefs and Traditional Affairs minister Lawrence Sichalwe said the detachment of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries from the Ministry of Agriculture underscored Government’s efforts to develop the livestock industry.

He said livestock production was a profitable enterprise that had massive potential for all the chiefdoms in Zambia.

“I therefore challenge officers in this ministry to invest their time in promoting livestock production in all the chiefdoms and take advantage of the market in Saudi Arabia,”  Mr Sichalwe said.

Mr Sichalwe was speaking in Kasempa when he officiated at this year’s Nsomo traditional ceremony of Senior Chief Kasempa.

He said Government will continue partnering with traditional leaders to foster development in Zambia which he said was the reason for the creation of the Ministry of Chiefs’ Affairs to bridge the gap between traditional governance and Government in general.

“Government will also continue to rely on the knowledge and wisdom of their royal highnesses in governing Zambia to sustain the peace and tranquillity that the nation has enjoyed since the attainment of independence,”  he said.

He said to address the prevailing socio-economic challenges, Government was implementing the decentralisation policy which would result in massive rural infrastructure development, job creation and social protection.

“I therefore challenge the line ministries and other stakeholders to work closely with our royal highnesses in initiating chiefdom strategic development plans to strengthen the cooperative advantages with regards to resource mobilisation and maximisation,” he said.

Earlier, Nsomo traditional ceremony organising chairperson Anot Kalele commended Government for taking development to the chiefdom.